Keeping it Legal

Know what questions you can--and can't--ask a job candidate during an interview.

---Shares

January 2, 2003

"What country are you from?" This question is clearly
illegal because it discriminates against national origin. You can
also get into trouble by asking an applicant what languages he or
she speaks, unless speaking a certain language is part of the job
description. There are exceptions, however. Suppose you are trying
to hire a person for a job that requires a security clearance from
the U.S. government. In this case, they must be a U.S. citizen. If
you have included this requirement in your job description, then
you may ask, "Based upon what I have told you, would you
qualify for a security clearance from the U.S.
government?"

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